Sixteen year old Jacob Smithson has quite a temper. He’s picked on by other kids because he likes boys, and recent fighting has kicked him out of public school. As a last resort, his parents have placed him in the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Boarding School for Boys.<br><br>It’s at his first mass at St. Thomas where he sees Avery Dendritch, a senior who serves as altar boy during the service. When they meet, the attraction between them is hard to deny. The two become fast friends, and as the school year progresses, their friendship deepens into something more. For the first time, Jacob has found a place where he belongs ... and someone with whom he’s falling in love.<br><br>But the other students gossip about their growing relationship, and while Avery can ignore them, Jacob cannot. As the rumors and slurs start up again, can he curb his temper, or will his penchant for fighting get him expelled from St. Thomas, as well?

Without Sin

His hands move on their own, keep hitting, keep hurting. He doesn’t think he can get them to stop.Part 4 1


Avery is late for his economics test. He knows he should’ve at least opened the book this weekend but he was too busy with Jacob. He doesn’t regret that in the least. He loves that boy, everything about him. This is more than what he thought he felt for Tyrone or Greg. It’s more than he’s ever felt before. He thinks there will never be anyone like Jacob for him again. He doesn’t plan to ever let him go. He’s only seventeen—this doesn’t seem like such an outrageous idea to him.


He already knows they’ll run up the phone bills over winter break. He’s applied to several colleges but he’s waiting to hear from State. That’s where Parker goes. He wants to go there too so he can stay close to Jacob. He’s already trying to work out in his mind how they’ll spend the summer together. They have to—he’s going to make sure they do.


Chapter 55